Home / Other News / Young blind woman believed to be the first in the UK to cycle a massive bike trail independently – riding 30 miles

Young blind woman believed to be the first in the UK to cycle a massive bike trail independently – riding 30 miles

SWNS) By Ben McVay– September 10, 2018 Rachel Hanks, 20, of Halifax, West Yorks. An inspirational blind woman is the first in the UK to cycle a 30-mile bike trail on her own. The conventional way for a blind rider to cycle is on a tandem, with a sighted helper leading the way, but superfit… [Read More]

Rachel Hanks, 20, of Halifax, West Yorks.
An inspirational blind woman is the first in the UK to cycle a 30-mile bike trail on her own.

The conventional way for a blind rider to cycle is on a tandem, with a sighted helper leading the way, but superfit Rachel Hanks, 20, wanted to go it alone.

But when youth worker Marcus Irving took on the challenge to help Rachel he was shocked to find the concept of independent riding was unchartered territory.

Even paralymions ride on bikes for two.

Rachel Hanks, 20, of Halifax, West Yorks.Instead, thinking Rachel must be the first of her kind, the pair had to work together to create a routine that worked for them, making sure Rachel could be led safely.

Sports student Rachel said: “The main problem with cycling like this is that I can fall a lot, but I have no problem with falling off my bike, so I just cracked on with it.”

Rachel was born with cataracts but went completely blind two years ago.

Unbeknown to her she had a mutation of gene gja8 which means her optical nerve has continually detereorated.

In November 2015 she woke up one morning completely blind. Her mum came down the stairs to find her stood in the dark at the bottom all alone.

Rachel was rushed to hospital where they were delivered the bombshell that she would never see again.